Those rectangular sheetmetal plates on the back of a computer tower that you remove when you install a new card so that you can hook up your cable or whatever. Is that called an ‘expansion port cover’? If not, what is the proper name?
My coworker is finally getting off of the dial-up and will be getting cable internet access. She bought a wireless card. I told her it’s easy to install. Open the computer, remove the cover (in the first paragraph), plug in the card. close the computer, follow the instructions on the installation disc. She tried to do that last night, but she ran into a problem.
She didn’t know how to remove the cover so the antenna can protrude from the case. I told her to just unscrew the screw that’s holding the plate on, and then remove it. She said there’s no screw. She said there’s a ‘tab’ pointing to the cover, and that another tab next to the opening of a slot that’s being used is pointing the other way. She didn’t know if the tab was connected to something. I can’t imagine it would be, since the back of a computer case is a sheet of metal.
The thing is, I’ve only seen these covers attached with a screw at one end. I have not seen my coworker’s computer, nor am I going over to her house; so I’m not really sure what she’s talking about. Does this kind of cover sound familiar to anyone? Does the tab have anything to do with removing it? Or do you just punch the cover out? If you know what I’m talking about, do you have a picture?
I’ve had cases in the past where the shape of the port was just stamped out in the metal and they had to be bent open with pliers, but that was probably more than ten years ago. I certainly hope that practice has died out, as I still don’t know where one would get replacement ports for one of those.
These days it’s pretty unlikely that a computer would come with such a detailed manual. But the manufacturer may have a service manual on their web site, so that should be the first place to look.
(And it’s not unusual for a case to have an unusual locking or retaining mechanism, that you can’t figure out without a manual. My HP desktop has a hard drive mounting hardware that I couldn’t figure out without the service manual - you have to press down a certain part and slide the bracket in a certain direction.)
Some of my Antec cases have had the port covers (I have no idea of the actual term) that slide into place with a ‘click’ that holds them there. No screws (though there is a screw hole for installing a card), just friction holds them down. MUCH better than the twisty-turny-pull out with pliers knuckle-cutters of other cases. A bit too vigorous, and the whole array takes on a very slight warp. Remove a card and you have a hole. The removable plates are great. Go Antech Go!
You could have her take a digital photograph of it to show you.
Chances are, if it’s a cheap case (as is the case with lots of independant builders who like to save money), a swift jab with a screwdriver and a couple twisting motions are all you need to break the metal cover off of the back.
It’s stupid, and dangerous, and you risk bending the actual back of the computer, but it saves money.
Of course, verify this before you instruct your friend to start jabbing away at the back…
Many cases have a little bar that swings down and holds all of the slot covers (expansion port covers, whatever you want to call them) in place. Figuring out how to get this little bar out can sometimes be a bit tricky, but it usually comes down to a single screw or a tab somewhere. Sometimes the thing slides and rotates. Sometimes it is just held in with clips and you just pop it out with a bit of force.
They do this to reduce the cost by a few cents. It’s cheaper to stamp out a single piece of metal and drill and tap maybe one hole than it is to drill and tap a hole for each slot. When they do the final assembly of the computer they shove all the cards in, then slide/rotate/whatever the bar into place and secure one screw, which is a lot faster than securing screws for each individual card.
Unless you are 100 percent certain it is a punch out, attacking it with a screwdriver is a really bad thing to do. Punch outs are extremely rare. I seriously doubt that this is the type of case she has.
Of course! That’s what they’re called in cars. And computers have chassis, right?
I’ve passed everyone’s comments onto my coworker, who has left for the day. I have to say, this is a question that has never occurred to me. I mean, there are blanking plates (Thanks Quartz!), and one needs to come out. Just look at it and see how to do it!
With your comments, she should be able to figure it out. (Or else get the cable guy to do it! )
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